Detachable device case and top cover mounting structure

ABSTRACT

A detachable device case and top cover mounting structure includes a case, a top cover detachably covered on the case, and two spring members fixedly fastened to the top cover corresponding to a respective through hole in the top cover and adapted to engage respective engagement structures at the case, each spring member having a retaining portion adapted to engage the corresponding engagement structure at the case and a press portion for pressing by the user to disengage the retaining portion from the corresponding engagement structure, each engagement structure of the case having a beveled edge adapted to guide the retaining portion of the corresponding spring plate into engagement with the corresponding engagement structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a detachable device case and top cover mounting structure and, more particularly to a detachable device case and top cover mounting structure for computer, which enables the top cover of the computer to be detachably fastened to the case of the computer.

2. Description of Related Art

A computer generally comprises a case adapted to accommodate different computer parts, and a top cover covering the case. According to early designs, the top cover is affixed to the case with screws. However, it is inconvenient to remove the screws when wishing to open the top cover from the case. In order to eliminate this drawback, coupling structures are designed for enabling the top cover to be conveniently detached from the case. A coupling structure for this purpose is known comprises an engagement mechanism provided at the top cover, and a retaining device provided at the case and adapted to engage the engagement mechanism at the top cover. The engagement mechanism comprises a spring plate that can be deformed to disengage from the retaining device at the case. However, because the fulcrum of the spring plate is affixed to the top cover and the user must give force to the spring plate from two sides in transverse direction, it is difficult to deform the spring plate. Further, the retaining device is a retaining hole formed in the case. In order to guide the engagement mechanism into engagement with the retaining device, a sliding guide member, for example, a copper rod is provided in the engagement structure of the top cover. This design of sliding guide member increases the number of parts of the top cover and, complicates the manufacturing and installation of the top cover.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a detachable device case and top cover mounting structure that eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the main object of the present invention to provide a detachable device case and top cover mounting structure, which enables the user to conveniently give a pressure to the spring plates of the top cover so as to unlock the top cover from the case.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a detachable device case and top cover mounting structure, which has means to guide the top cover automatically into the locking position.

To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the detachable device case and top cover mounting structure comprises a case, a top cover, and two spring plates. The case comprises a left-side panel and a right-side panel. The left-side panel and the right-side panel each have an engagement structure at the top. The top cover is adapted to cover the case, having two through holes cut through top and bottom surfaces thereof and respectively disposed adjacent to the left-side panel and right-side panel of the case. The two spring plates are respectively mounted on the top cover corresponding to the through holes, each having a mounting portion disposed at one end and fastened to the inner side of the top cover at a location far from the inner side of the left-side panel or right-side panel, a retaining portion extended from the opposite end and adapted to engage the engagement structure at the left-side panel and right-side panel of the case, and a press portion spaced between the mounting portion and the retaining portion and disposed adjacent to one side of the retaining portion corresponding to one through hole of the top cover.

When removing the top cover from the case, the user can press the press portions of the spring plates to deform the spring plates and to further disengage the retaining portions of the spring plates from the engagement structures of the case, for enabling the top cover to be separated from the case. Because the mounting portions of the spring plates are affixed to the top cover, the retaining portions of the spring plates can easily be turned downwards relative to the fulcrum at the mounting portions.

The engagement structures of the case are groove means adapted to receive the retaining portions of the spring plates, and the retaining portions of the spring plates are retaining flanges connectable to the groove means. The groove means of each engagement structure comprises a sliding groove and a retaining portion. The retaining portions of the spring plates are respectively inserted through the sliding grooves of the groove means of the engagement structures and forced into engagement with the retaining portions of the groove means of the engagement structures respectively. The groove means of each engagement structure further comprises a stop portion spaced between the sliding groove and the retaining portion of the respective groove means and adapted to stop the retaining portion of the corresponding spring plate in engagement with the retaining portion of the respective groove means. Therefore, the user needs only to apply a force gently to the top cover to force the retaining portions of the spring plates over the stop portions of the engagement structures of the case, and the top cover is automatically locked to the case.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view in an enlarged scale of a part of the left-side panel of the case shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view in an enlarged scale of a part of the right-side panel of the case shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an oblique bottom view in perspective in an enlarged scale of the top cover shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing showing the top cover mounting procedure according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing showing the top cover dismounting procedure according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a detachable device case and top cover mounting structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown comprised of a case 1, and a top cover 2.

The case 1 comprises a left-side panel 11, and a right-side panel 12. The left-side panel 11 and the right-side panel 12 each have an engagement structure 13 or 14 at the top. The top cover 2 is a substantially U-shaped plate member, having a left-side flange 23 and a right-side flange 24 respectively downwardly extended from two opposite lateral sides thereof and respectively covered on the left-side panel 11 and right-side panel 12 of the case 1.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIGS. 1 and 2 again, the engagement structure 13 or 14 of the left-side panel 11 or right-side panel 12 is groove means comprising a sliding groove 131 or 141, a retaining portion 132 or 142, and a stop portion 133 or 143 spaced between the sliding groove 131 or 141 and the retaining portion 132 or 142. The stop portion 133 or 143 has a beveled edge 134 or 144 sloping downwards backwards.

Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 1 again, the top cover 2 further comprises two through holes 21 and 22 cut through the top and bottom surface thereof and respectively disposed adjacent to the left-side panel 11 and right-side panel 12 of the case 1. Two spring plates 3 are mounted on the top cover 2 corresponding to the through holes 21 and 22. Each spring plate 3 has one end, namely, the fixed end terminating in a mounting portion 31, and the other end, namely, the free end terminating in a retaining portion 32. The mounting portion 31 is fixedly fastened to the inner side of the top cover 2 at a location far from the inner side of the left-side panel 11 or right-side panel 12 of the case 1. The retaining portion 32 is a retaining flange corresponding to the engagement structure 13 or 14 of the case 1. Please be aware of the identity of the spring plates 3, i.e. the spring plates 3 are identical in structure and can be interchanged to save the manufacturing cost of the detachable device case and top cover mounting structure and to simplify the assembly process with the top cover 2.

Referring to FIG. 5 and FIGS. 1-4 again, each spring plate 3 further comprises a press portion 33 suspended between the mounting portion 31 and the retaining portion 32 and disposed relatively closer to the retaining portion 32 corresponding to the through hole 21 or 22 of the top cover 2.

During installation of the top cover 2 on the case 1, cover the top cover 2 on the case 1 to insert the retaining portions 32 of the spring plates 3 into the sliding grooves 131 and 141 of the engagement structures 13 and 14 of the case 1, and then push the top cover 2 forwards relative to the case 1. At this time, the retaining portions 32 of the spring plates 3 are respectively forced to deform downwards by the beveled edges 134 and 144 of the engagement structures 13 and 14 of the case 1 and to move toward the retaining portions 132 and 142 of the engagement structures 13 and 14 of the case 1. When continuously pushing the top cover 2 forwards, the retaining portions 32 of the spring plates 3 are respectively forced into engagement with the retaining portions 132 and 142 of the engagement structures 13 and 14 of the case 1, and stopped in the engaged position by the stop portions 133 and 143 of the engagement structures 13 and 14 of the case 1 respectively automatically.

The left-side panel 11 and right-side panel 12 of the case 1 have a respective sliding slot 112 or 122. The left-side flange 23 and right-side flange 24 of the top cover 2 have a respective guide rod 231 or 241 respectively inserted into the sliding slot 112 or 122 of the case 1 to guide movement of the top cover 2 on the case 1.

Referring to FIG. 6 and FIGS. 1 and 4 again, when detaching the top cover 2 from the case 1, press the press portions 33 of the spring plates 3 (see the arrowhead sign in FIG. 6) to deform the spring plates 3 downwards (because the fixed ends of the spring plates 3 are affixed to the top cover 2, the free ends of the spring plates 3 can easily be turned downwards relative to the fulcrum at the fixed ends), and then pull the top cover 2 backwards relative to the case 1 to disengage the retaining portions 32 of the spring plates 3 from the engagement structures 13 and 14 of the case 1, and thus the top cover 2 is separated from the case 1.

As indicated above, the top cover 2 can easily be inserted into position and automatically locked to the case 1. By means of applying a force to the spring plates 3, the top cover 2 can easily be separated from the case 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 4, and 6 again, the top cover 2 further comprises two integrated stop members 25 formed integral with and suspended from the bottom side corresponding to the spring plates 3 and adapted to limit the downward deforming amount of the free ends of the spring plates 3, preventing breaking of the spring members 3 due to a sharp deformation. Because the stop members 25 are formed integral with the top cover 2, the fabrication of the top cover 2 is easier than conventional rivet mounting or split design.

A prototype of detachable device case and top cover mounting structure has been constructed with the features of FIGS. 1-6. The detachable device case and top cover mounting structure functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.

Although a particular embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

1. A detachable device case and top cover mounting structure comprising: a case, said case comprising a left-side panel and a right-side panel, said left-side panel and said right-side panel each having a top side and an engagement structure disposed at the top side; a top cover covering said case, said top cover having two through holes cut through top and bottom surfaces thereof and respectively disposed adjacent to the left-side panel and right-side panel of said case; and two spring plates respectively mounted on said top cover corresponding to said through holes, said spring plates each having a mounting portion disposed at one end thereof and fastened to an inner side of said top cover at a location far from an inner side of said left-side panel and said right-side panel, a retaining portion extended from an opposite end thereof and adapted to engage the engagement structure at one of the left-side panel and right-side panel of said case, and a press portion spaced between said mounting portion and said retaining portion and disposed adjacent to one side of said retaining portion corresponding to one through hole of said top cover for pressing by the user to disengage said retaining portion from the corresponding engagement structure of said case.
 2. The detachable device case and top cover mounting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engagement structures of the left-side panel and right-side panel of said case are groove means adapted to receive the retaining portions of said spring plates, and the retaining portions of said spring plates are retaining flanges connectable to said groove means.
 3. The detachable device case and top cover mounting structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the groove means of each said engagement structure comprises a sliding groove and a retaining portion; the retaining portions of said spring plates are respectively inserted through the sliding grooves of the groove means of said engagement structures and forced into engagement with the retaining portions of the groove means of said engagement structures.
 4. The detachable device case and top cover mounting structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the groove means of each said engagement structure further comprises a stop portion spaced between the sliding groove and retaining portion of the respective groove means and adapted to stop the retaining portion of the corresponding spring plate in engagement with the retaining portion of the groove means of the corresponding engagement structure after insertion of the retaining portion of the corresponding spring plate into the sliding groove of the groove means of the corresponding engagement structure into engagement with the retaining portion of the groove means of the corresponding engagement structure.
 5. The detachable device case and top cover mounting structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein the stop portion of the groove means of each said engagement structure has a beveled edge adapted to guide the retaining portion of the corresponding spring plate into engagement with the retaining portion of the groove means of the corresponding engagement structure.
 6. The detachable device case and top cover mounting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top cover is a substantially U-shaped plate member covered on said case, having a left-side flange and a right-side flange respectively extended from two opposite lateral sides thereof and respectively covered on the left-side panel and right-side panel of said case.
 7. The detachable device case and top cover mounting structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the left-side panel and right-side panel of said case each have a sliding slot; the left-side flange and right-side flange of said top cover each have a guide rod respectively slidably inserted into the sliding slots of the left-side panel and right-side panel of said case. 